Grade 1

Reading

In reading this past fortnight, students have been developing their confidence in recognising words, understanding sentences, and applying new phonics skills. In Week 7, we learnt about nouns and explored how nouns name a person, place or thing. Students practised finding nouns in pictures and sentences, sorting them into groups, and using them in their own sentence writing. We also revised tricky words, including saw, friend and school, and began practising how to hear, read and write two-syllable words.

In Week 8, students kept building on this learning by practising longer words and learning two new spelling patterns for the long /a/ sound: ‘ai’ as in rain and ‘ay’ as in play. They explored where these patterns are usually found in words, and practised reading, writing and sorting words with these sounds. Students also revised tricky words, including your, again and home.

It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing as they practise recognising nouns, clapping and counting syllables, and using new sounds and words in their reading and writing.

Maths

In Mathematics this fortnight, students have been developing their understanding of numbers by comparing and ordering numerals to 120, and representing these numbers using place value charts and base ten materials. Through hands-on learning with manipulatives, students have explored how to build, compare and order numbers, strengthening their understanding of tens and ones. They have also been practising subitising to quickly recognise parts of numbers to 10 and 20, supporting their fluency in addition and subtraction. Through activities such as labelling discrete bar models and writing number bonds within 10, students are building strong foundations in part-part-whole relationships and developing confidence in solving simple number problems.

Writing

In Week 5, students explored the mentor text OCHRE: A Year on our Farm to build their understanding of how texts can describe changes over time. We discussed the four seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring) and explored new vocabulary such as freezing and allowed. Students also learnt that symbols and images can represent the passing of time, and created their own four-panel drawings to show seasonal changes. Students developed their understanding of nouns, including the difference between common and proper nouns. They practised identifying nouns in sentences, adding capital letters to proper nouns, and recognising that names of people, places, and days require capitals. Students also worked on reading and punctuating sentences, identifying and correcting errors.

In Week 6, students focused on using capital letters and full stops correctly in their writing. We discussed how a full stop shows that a sentence is complete, and students practised this through our engaging Full Stop Detectives Scoot activity. They worked collaboratively to fix sentences by adding missing capital letters and punctuation, and then rewrote them correctly. Students also began developing their editing skills, learning that good writers check their work to ensure it makes sense and is complete. Using a checklist, they identified the who or what (subject), the action (verb), and whether a group of words was a full sentence or a fragment. Students responded to texts by exploring characters and their perspectives. They demonstrated their understanding by drawing a character and using a thought bubble to show what the character might be thinking.

Other

During Integrated and additional subjects, students have been exploring Fabulous Families and learning about respectful relationships. Through activities like the Traffic Lights game, they have practised focus, listening, and taking turns. Students have also acted as “Strengths Detectives,” talking about things they do that make them feel proud and strong at school. In literacy, we have been exploring concepts of print, learning to identify the front cover, back cover, and spine of a book, and distinguishing fiction texts. Alongside this, students have been learning about kinship and family structures, comparing these to their own families, and discussing strategies to use when facing unfamiliar or challenging situations.

Home Learning:

Reading

Go on a noun hunt at home to find a person, place or thing and encourage your child to use it in a sentence.
Practise clapping syllables in words (e.g ta-ble, win-dow, pen-cil).
Practise tricky words: saw, friend, school, your, again, home. Encourage your child to read these words (located in their Term 1 home journal.
Look for words with the /ai/ (rain) and /ay/ (play) sounds, or play a word game where you say a word and your child works out if it uses ‘ai’ (in the middle) or ‘ay’ (at the end).
Read together each night and encourage your child to sound out words and spot tricky words.

Mathematics

Practise counting and ordering numbers to 120.
Use items at home (toys, blocks) to make tens and ones.
Play quick games like “How many?” to practise subitising and number bonds to 10

Writing

Talking about the seasons and changes you notice (weather, clothing, activities).
Practising using capital letters for names, places, and at the beginning of sentences.
Helping them identify nouns (people, places, things) in everyday conversations, such as naming objects at home, places you visit, or people you know.
Play simple word games (e.g. “Can you find a noun in this sentence?”).
Encourage your child to write simple sentences about their day.
Practise turning a common noun into a proper noun (e.g. city → Melbourne)